Easel



April 25, 1939. v 1.. VAN PAPPELENDAM 2156226 EASEL Fi led Sepc. 9, 19352 Sheets-Sheet l FIG.1 zo

46 46 22 LAURA VAN APPELENDAM Patented pr. 25, 1939 UNITED STATES PTENTOFFICE 5 Claims.

This invention relates to article supports, and more particularly toeasels, especially of the type employed by artists for supporting thecanvas upn which a picture is produced.

One of the objects of the inventon is the provision of support for acanvas supporting frame at. the ends thereof.

Another object of the invention is to provide aneasel capable ofsupportng a canvas of substantially any length.

Another object of the invention is to provide an easel capable of a widerange of adjustment so as to be adaptable to stand firmly on 1eve1 orirregular surfaces.

Another object of the invention is te provide an easel in which thecanvas supportin'g frame becomes an essential element of the easel sothat the frame isfirmiy supported by and prevented from accidentaldisplacement from the ease1.

Another object of the invention is to provide an easel in which noportion thereof extends above the canvas supporting frameintermediateits ends, thus airding clear and unlimited visibility aboveand. beyond the canvas.

Another object of the invention is to provide an easel having the canvassupporting frame so intimately associated with and supported. by theeasel that the assembly may be moved as a single unit.

Another object of the invention is the proviinuselight in weight, easilyassembled and dis" assembled,and which packs compactly fortransportation.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in thecombination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more partcularly to bedescribed and claimed in the appended claims, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings in which,

Fig. 1 is a front view, in elevation, of an assembled easel according tothe invention,

Fig. 2 is a side view, in elevaton, of the easel,

Fig. 3 is a f'ace view of the upper portion of one of the rearwardlyextending 1egs of the easel,

Fig. 4 is an edge view of the leg portion shown in Fig. 3,

Fig. 5 is a plan view of one of the forwardly extending 1egs,

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 1,

Fig; 7 isa plan View of the elements of the easei arranged andassociated for carrying,

Figs. 8 to 17 inclusiire are views illustrating several of the manyassembly arrangements of which the easei is capable,

Fig. 18 is a sectional view taken en theline 18-18 of Fig. 7, and

Fig. 19 is a sectional view taken. on the line 5 1-19 of Fig. 7.

Referring now to the drawings, in which the reference charactersdesignate corresponding. parts throughout the several views, andparticularly te Fig. 1, the reference numeral 2II denotes the. usualframe or canvas stretcher which is ordinarily employedby artists forsupporting, in a stretched or taut condition, the canvas upon whichapicture is to be produced. The frame 20 is usually rectangular incontour, and has the canvas 2l stretched across its face, drawn downover its ends, and secured thereto by any convenient means such astacks.

As shown in Figs. 1 and.- 2 there are provided for supporting the frame20, two pairs of legs, one pair extending forwardly of the frame, and.the other pair extending rearwardly of the frame. The forwardlyextending 1egs, designated. by the reference numeral 22, may be made ofwood or light metal, of sufiicient thickness to firmly support theframe20 without bending, and preferably tapering in width uniformly from topte bottom. Therearwardly extending 1egs 24 may be of the same materialas the legs 22, and of similar shape,being preferably of uniformthickness and of tapering width rom top te bottom. As shown in Fig. 2,and. in detail in Figs. 3 and. 4, the legs 24 are providedwith a pair offiat prongs or tongues 25 and 2twThese tongues are thin stripspreferably of metal, secured to the 1egs 24 near the upper ends thereof.The tongue 25 issecureclin any convenientmanner against one face of the1eg 24 such as by rivets 21, and is disposec longitudinally of the leg;and extends beyond the upperend thereof any desired distance, such as afew inches. The tongue 26 is similar in width and thickness to thetongue 25, and is pivotally secured near its-inner end against the faceof the leg 24 opposite to that which carris the tongue 2 The pivo-talmounting for the tongue 26 may be one of the rivets 21 which securesthetongue 25 to the leg, or any other suitab1e pivot mountingmay beemployed, and a spacer bushing er washer 28 may be disposed between thetongue26 and. the leg 24 upon the 5b pivotmounting of the tongue toprovide a bearing.for the tongue. Intermediate its ends. the tongue:25isprovided= with a doublereverse orS shapedbendby meansofwhich the"outer portion of the tongue 25 may be disposed in a plane par- 51;

allel to the tongue 25 and only slightly displaced thcrefrom. Thetongues 25 and 28 are employecl for securing the legs 24 to the frame2B.

A plurality of clamps 29, preferably four in number, are employed forsecuring the legs 22 and 24 to the frame 29. The clamp 29, as shown indetail in Fig. 6, consists of a pair of cooperating hook shaped members36 and 31. The member 3 consists of a straight portion 32 and a hookshaped portion 33 extending substantially at right angles from one endof the straight portion integr-al therewith. The member 39 is of metal,and may be formed in any suitable manner, such as by casting. The spacedefined by the straight portion 32 and the end of the hook portion 33should be wide enough to receive and seat the widest portion of a leg22. The straight portion 32 is preferably rectangular in cross section,01 -at least is provided with a flat inner surface to engage and seat aside member of the frame 20 and a leg 22. The straight portion 32 of theclamp member 35 is provided with a bore 34 extending longitudinallytherethrough from end to end, the bore being non-cylindrical in crosssection, and preferably square. Cooperating with the clamp member 39 isthe member 3ll which h-as a straight portion 35 extending through andsldable within the bore 34, and. a hook shaped portion 35 in opposedrelation to hook portion 33 of the member 39. The straight portion 35 ofthe clamp member 3i has a cross sectional contour ccrresponding to thatof the bore 34 to prevent rotation of the member 3| relative to themember 353, and is slightly smaller than bore 34 to permit free relativelongitudinal movement between the two members. The end of the member 3lopposite the hook shaped portion 35 is provided with threads 38 toreceive a wing nut 39.

Fig. 6 shows the marmer in which the clamp 29 is employed 'or securing aleg 22 to the frame 2.

A leg 22 is dsposed against a side member of the frame 2G, with the leg22 extending longitudinally of the side member. The clamp is then placedbehind the side member of the frame, with the hook shaped portion 36inside the frame, the

" hook shaped portion 33 outside of the leg 22, and

both hook shaped portions extending forward. When the several elementshave beenpositoned as described above, the wing nut is rotated to drawthe hook shaped portions toward each other and thus firmly clamp the leg22 and the side member of the frame 20 therebetween.

In the preceding paragraph, the manner of employing a clamp 29 to securea forwardly extending leg 22 to one side of the frame 29 has beendescribed. As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, it is preferable to use two clampsto secure a forwardly extending leg to the frame, the clamps beingliberally spaced to afi"ord maximum rigidity. Figs. 1 and 2 illustratethe conventional or normal assembly of the easel, for use where it canstand upon a flat surface. The rearwardly extending legs are securecl inposition by rotating the tongue 26 about its pivot so that it isdisposed -at a substantial angle to the tongue 25, as shown in Figs. 2and 3, and inserting the tongues be tween the leg 22 and the side of theframe 20. After the tongues 25 and 26 have been so disposed, the clamps29 are tightenecl by rotating the wing nuts 39, to firmly clamp theforwardly extending legs 22 against the frame 20. The tongues 25 and 26are thus firmly secured between the legs 22 and the frame 20, and byreason of the angular disposition of the tongues 25 and 25 with respectto each other, relative movement of the rearwardly extending leg 24 withrespect to the frame 23 is prevented, and the leg 24 is firmly grippedand held.

As previously stated, Fig. 7 shows the manner in which the parts of theeasel are arranged and associated for carrying and for storage when notin use. In order to facilitate the carrying of the easel there isprovided a handle 45. The handle is of convenient size to accommodate ahuman hand, and is preferably of metal, cast in the desired form,although it may be fashoned by any other of the well known metal workingprocesses into the desired form. As shown in Figs. 18 and 19, the handleis provided at its base with outwardly extending portions 46 at theopposite ends thereof. Each of the outwardly extending p0rtionsterminates in a depending flange 41. The outwardly extending portionsare preferably of sufiicient length to permit a pair of the 1egs 22 or24 to be disposed side by side in fiat position between the dependingflanges of opposed outwardly extending portons. At one end of the handleis secured a threaded stud 48, and at the other end the handle isprovided with an aperture 49 preferably disposecl above the outwardlyextending portions 45 and having its axis longituclnally of the handle.

Cooperating with the handle 45 there is shown in Figs. 7, 18 and 19 aleg supporting strip 50 which is shown in Fig. 1 employed as a brace.The strip 55 may be of any desired materal, such as wood, or metal, andin the preferred construction is of the s-ame material as the legs 22and 24. The strip 55 is preferably of substantially the same thicknessas the legs 22 and 24, and substantially as wide, throughout its lngth,as the widest portion of a leg 22 or 24, although its width andthickness may be varied as desired. The strip 50 may be somewhat shorterthen the legs 22 and 24, as shown in Fig. 7, but it should not exceedthe legs in length. The strip 50 is provided, as shown, in Fig. 1, withtwo longitudinally extending slots 5I separated at their inner ends by asolid portion 52 and terminating a short distance from the enols of thestrip. A metal band (Fig. 18) 53 loosely surrounds and slides upon thestrip 59, and the band is provided with apertures at opposite sidesthereof and in registry with one of the slots 5| in the strip 59. Amember 55 having a transversely extending portion 55 at one end and.threaded at the other end loosely passes through the apertures of theband 53 and receives a wing nut 51. A wing nut 58 is also provided forthe threaded stud 48 carried by the handle 45.

In assembling the easel for carrying, the metal band having beenpreviously mounted on the strip 551 and the member 55 extending throughone of the slots 51! and through the apertures in band 53 and having thewing nut 51 mounted thereon, the stud 43 of the handle 45 is passedthrcugh the other slot 5! to receive the wing nut 58. When the handle 45and member 55 have been dispcsed as described with respect to the strip55 and the wing nuts have been threaded onto the stud 48 and member 55,the threadeol ends of those elements may be flared or otherwisedistorted to prevent removal of the wing nuts, as subsequent separationof the parts is not necessary. The legs may then be positioned forcarrying between the handle 45 and the strip 50, and between the pairsof depending fianges 41. This may be accomplished by sliding the legsendwise into position so that two 1egs lie fiat in superposed relationupon strip 50 on each side of the stud 48 and member 55. After the legehave been so positioned the wing nut 58 is tightened to firmly clamp thelegs between the strip 50 and the outwardly extending portions 46 of thehandle 45 at one end thereof. 'Ihen the transversely extending portion56 of the member 55 is inserted into the aperture 49 of the handle andthe wing nut 51 is tightened to clamp the legs at the other end of thehandle. It is understood that the handle is preferably clamped in acentral position to provide balance of the assembly to facilitatecarrying.

Previous refernce has been made to the use of the strip 50 as a braceand the use of the handle 45 as a cooperating clamp. One of the ways inwhich those elements may be so employed is shown in Fig. 1, in which thestrip extends from one of the front legs 22 to the lower portion of theframe 20, and is secured to both members. The lower end of the strip 50extends loehind the leg, and the transversely extending por tion 56 ofmember 55 is positioned against the front of the leg so that when thewing nut 51, which is not seen in Fig. 1 is tightened, the strip isfirmly clamped to the leg. The other end of the strip 50 extends behindthe frame 20, and the depending flanges 41 of handle 45 at the end whichcarries stud 48 are placed against the lower edge of frame 20 with theend portion of the handle (rght-hand end as viewed in Fig. 7) extendingupwardly in front of the lower member of the frame 20, after which thewing nut 58, which is seen in Fig. 2 may be tightened to securely clampthe strip to the frame. Increased stability and rigidity is attained bythe above described use of the strip 50.

One of the objects of the invention, as herenbefore stated, is theprovision of an easel capable of a wide range of adjustments. Figs. 8 to17 inclusive show some of the numerous forms into which the elements ofthe easel may be assembled. Referring t0 Fig. 8, it will be seen thatthe assembly is similar to that of Fig. 2 except that the tongues 25 and26 are disposed at opposite sides of one of the clamps 29, whereas inFig. 2 the tongues are disposed between the two clamps.

Fig. 9 shows the clamping of the frame 20 high with respect to the lege22 and 24, so that the clamps 29 are relatively close together. Thetongue 25, disposed between the frame 20 and the leg 22, passes underthe upper clamp 29 obliquely thereto, and the tongue 26 similarly passesunder the lower clamp 29 obliquely thereto. In this arrangement theclamps 29 exert a direct clamping eifeet on the tongues 25 and 26, andthe lower ends of the legs 22 and 24 are relatively close together, toenable the plaoing of the easel in a limited space, such as close to thefoot of an embankment.

The arrangement shown in Fig. 10 is particularly useful in positioningthe easel on the side of a hill or embankment. Instead of clamping thetongues 25 and. 25 between the frame 20 and legs 22, as in Figs. 2, 8and 9, a portion of each leg 24 intermediate its end is clamped betweena leg 22 and the frame 20, so that the upper end of each leg 24 extendsforwardly of the frame 20.

Fig. 11 shows an arrangement of the parts similar to that of Fig. 2,except that the forward- 1y extending legs 22 are supported on anelevation with respect to the lower legs, such as, on star-steps.

Fig. 12 shows en arrangement for positioning the frame 20 at aconsiderably greater angle from vertical than in the previouslydescribed figures. This is accomplished by disposing the legs 24 so thatthe pivoted tongues 26 are disposed above the tongues 25, instead ofbelow the tongues 25 as shown in the previously described Figs. 2, 8, 9and 11. In 'this arrangement, the front and rear. legs are disposed at amuch greater angle with respect to each other than in these figures.

The arrangement shown in Fig, 13 combines the mild slope of the frame20, as shown in Fig. 12, and. the clamping of the leg 24 rather than thetongues 25 and 26, as shown in Fig. 10. The strip 50, handle 45 andclamp member 55 are employed as a brace between a front and. a rear leg,as in Fig. 1. This arrangement is convenient for supporting theforwardly extending legs at a higher leve1 than the rearwardly extendinglegs.

Fig. 14 shows an arrangement smilar to that of Fig. 13, except that theeasel is positionecl on a substantially flat surface, and the rear legs26 are substantially vertically disposed with respect to the supportingsurface.

In Fig. 15, the forwardly extending leg at one end of the frame 20 isdisposed higher with respect to the frame than the other forwardlyextending leg, so that the l-egs at opposite ends of the frame may besupported at different level, such as on different steps on a flight ofstairs.

Fig. 16 shows a disposition of the parts to enable the use of the easelon a flight of stairs similar to Fig. 15, except that legs are employedat one end of the frame 20 only, the other end of the frame resting onone of the steps of the flight of stairs.

Fig. 1? shows an arrangement in which three of the four legs may besupported at substantially the same level, one of the legs, such as arearwardly extending leg being positioned lower than the other, so thatone may be supported at a different level.

The invention is not to be co-nstrued as limited to the specificelements, and form and arrangement of elements and parts shown, anddescribed herein, as the said elements and parts, and the combinationand arrangement of said elements and parts are capable of modificationand substitution within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. The combination with an article supporting frame of a pair offorwardly extending legs removably clamped to said frame at a pluralityof points and. a pair of rearwardly extending legs clamped between saidforwardly extending legs and said frame intermediate the clamping ponts.

2. The combination with an article supporting frame of a forwardlyextending leg removably secured thereto by a plurality of spaced clampsand a rearwardly extending leg having a projecting tongue-shaped portionremovably clamped between said forwardly extendng leg and said frameintermediate said clamps.

3. In combination with an article supporting frame, a leg disposed alongone end of said frame in alignment therewith, a second. leg having aportion disposed between the first mentioned leg and the end of saidframe, and means for securing the first mentioned leg to the end of saidframe at a plurality of ponts.

1. In combination with an article supporting frame, a leg disposed alongone end thereof, a second leg having a pair of angularly disposedtongues secured to the upper end thereof, said tongues being disposedbetween the first mentioned leg and the end of said frame, and means forclamping the first mentioned leg to the end of sad frame with thetongues rgdly held between the first mentioned leg and the end of theframe 5. In combnatien with an artcle supportng frame, a leg dsposedalong one end thereof, a. second leg having a pair of tongues secured tothe upper end thereof, one of said tongues beng fixed wth respect tosaid leg, the other tongue beng pivoted te said leg to provide angularadjustment of one tongue relatve to the other said tongues havng therouter ends dsposed between the first mentoned leg and the end of theframe, and means for clampng the first mentened legto the end ef theframe with the tongues rgclly held between the first mentonec leg andthe end of the frame.

LAURA VAN PAPPELENDAM.

